The "The Pats don't need many draft picks this year" talk

[n6249c]

Its also possible we see more value in the later rounds than with the top end talent.

You can never have enough depth so I believe bb is still tsking the draft very seriously, could just turn out a very deep draft lessening the importance of having a 1.

Or Pats decided not drafting at all could provide good value. Only made four picks. Seems like another Foxtrot Uniform to Goodell and his cronies.

 

[AtomicDawg]

All on a year where we arbitrarily had draft value removed from us in the form of a 4th round pick. Amazing.

 

[maineman209]

All on a year where we arbitrarily had draft value removed from us in the form of a 4th round pick. Amazing.

Thus demonstrating that ...
... successful roster management isn't exclusively limited to which untested college prospects a team selects for themselves on draft weekend
... draft picks are merely ONE player acquisition tool that may be used in different ways
... attempts to prove whether or not a team "drafts well" by (subjectively) judging the "success/failure" of exclusively those untested prospects who are selected in the draft, outside the context of overall roster management, are inherently meaningless

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Thus demonstrating that ...
... successful roster management isn't exclusively limited to which untested college prospects a team selects for themselves on draft weekend
... draft picks are merely ONE player acquisition tool that may be used in different ways
... attempts to prove whether or not a team "drafts well" by (subjectively) judging the "success/failure" of exclusively those untested prospects who are selected in the draft, outside the context of overall roster management, are inherently meaningless

Really amazing breakdown. Really good points!

It goes to show that Belichick is miles ahead of the rest of the league in thinking outside of the box

 

[varjao]

I liked this draft very much.

 

[mgteich]

There's probably one player at each position who's not particularly involved in ST who could be upgraded out of a roster spot. Justin Coleman, for example.

That's about right.
OT
C
OG
TE
DT
LB
CB
S

Of course, one or more of these spots could be filled by special teamer.

 

[maineman209]

That's about right.
OT
C
OG
TE
DT
LB
CB
S

Of course, one or more of these spots could be filled by special teamer.

True.

The fact is that most ST coverage players are from defensive positions, primarily safety and LB, but also DE and CB. Offensive position players don't often get many special teams snaps except as blockers on our own return attempts, FGs, extra points (OL and TE and the occasional DT). The obvious reason is that defensive guys are well-practiced in open-field tackling and offensive guys generally aren't. Bolden and O'Shaughnessy are notable exceptions (and Slater wasn't even a WR in college).

So, new special teamers are most likely to come from the defensive positions - something that not enough fans (besides us) really think about when attempting to project the 53-man roster.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Still incredible that a coach has this much pedigree that he can take such risks with a franchise's assets, and be trusted every step of the way

 

[Deus Irae]

attempts to prove whether or not a team "drafts well" by (subjectively) judging the "success/failure" of exclusively those untested prospects who are selected in the draft, outside the context of overall roster management, are inherently meaningless

That wasn't demonstrated, at all.

 

[Deus Irae]

It would be interesting, assuming BB would be candid, to talk to the coach about the impact of very uneven drafting, particularly in round 2 (and 4th round and up WR drafting), on the decisions regarding the trades for Cooks and Ealy.

Recent 2nd round picks:

C. Jones
J. Richards
JAG
Jamie Collins
Aaron Dobson
Tavon Wilson
Ras-I Dowling
Shane Vereen
Gronk
Jermaine Cunningham
Brandon Spikes

One could reasonably ask BB whether or not it's been uneven drafting, particularly in round 2, that led to the decision to go the veteran route. The move costs money and contract years, but gives the team some genuine NFL tape to look at.